Permutation-lock.



B. S. BURNETT.

PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION msu 1AN.24.1916.

1,197,445. A PatentedSept. 5,1916.

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PERMUTATION LUCK. l APPLICATION FILED IAN.24. Ism;`

1,197,445. Patentedsept 5,1916.

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ENT @FFllFli BUELL S. BURNETT, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.'

PERMUTATION-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Application filed January 24, 1916. Serial No. 73,926.

To all fui/fom t may concern.'

Be it known that 1, BUELL S. BUnNn'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville7 in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented new and useful lmproven'ients in Permutationlocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in permutation locks, proposing a construction of the broad or general type disclosed in my U. S. `Qatents ilo. 1,136,653 of April 20, 1915 and No. 1,163,50d of December 7, 1915, the salient structural features of which are a sliding bolt having projections, ring-like tumblers cooperating with one of the projections on the bolt, and a central main tumbler for operating the ring-like tumblers and for coperation with another projection on the bolt, all of these elements being connected with a rotatable operating knob and dial plate.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a lock having all the advantages of the type of construction referred to and which, in addition, possesses the greatest range of possible combinations yet may be made unusually compact so as to take up a relatively small amount of space; and to provide a lock whose combination may be changed with the greatest facility. By virtue of these characteristics the improved lock, although having an indefinite range of useful applications, is especially adapted to the needs of large corporations, such as public service corporations, which may own or control in a particular locality or district a great number (c. g. several thousand) of cash boxes either as adjuncts of check controlled machines, such as prepayment gas and electric meters and telephone pay stations, or as independent devices, such as fare boxes.

A. lock embodying the principal features of the invention may be further adapted to the needs of corporations controlling a great number of cash boxes, as described, by providing for the separable relation of the operating knob with the dial carried thereby and the rotatable lock controlling element and by providing the said dial with pins or the like having one particular arrangement, and only one, adapting that dial to the combination of the lock. 1n this way, the locks .may be apportioned into groups with one combination for all the locks of each group but with the combination of the locks of one group different from the combinations of the locks of all the other groups; and a special dial may be provided for each group which will not work the combination of any other group. Structural features, as above mentioned, for enabling the described method of guarding against fraud or theft in making the collections from the cash boxes are disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 60,773.

A collateral object of the invention is to provide a novel and simply constructed master-dial which may be readily adjusted to provide for its adaptation to the combination of any particular group of locks.

|The invention consists in certain novel features of structure, combination and relation which, together with the above and other objects and advantages thereof, will appear as the description proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the detachable knob and dial operatively associated with the lock controlling element. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation with the lock plate of the lock casing removed and the bolt retracted, as in unlocking. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section with the parts in the same relation as in Fig. S2. Fig. l is a front elevation with the controlling element removed to show the lock organization with which said element co-acts, the bolt being retracted. Fig. is a vertical central section showing the parts as they are related when the bolt is projected. Fig. 6 is a view similar' to Fig. a, but showing the bolt projected. Fig. 7 isa horizontal sectional view showing the lock as assembled in relation to the wall of a cash box or other structure. Fig. S is a perspective view of the intermediate ring tumbler and the casing parts by which it is carried. Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views of the ring tumblers which are disposed at opposite sides of the intermediate ring tumbler. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a stem by which the lock controlling element is operatively connected to the tumblers. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the bolt. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of that member or part 'of the lock easing which inf closes the bolt and its operating spring. Figs. 14 and 15 are detail views showing the construction and mode of use of an implement which may be conveniently employed for adjusting the master-dial.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The wall with relation to which the lock is assembled, for example, the wall of the cash box of a pay-station telephone, is shown at 1 and may be provided with rearwardly projecting lugs or posts 2 against which the back plate 3 of the lock casing is held by screws 4.

The lock casing, in addition to the back plate 3, consists of a base 5 provided with a rearwardly directed annular flange 6 which is preferably of flaring or frusto-conical form and against which the back plate is held, a front plate 12 and a group of superposed flat, relatively thin rings 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 which are connected together as a unit and which are arranged between the base 5 and the front plate 12.

The operating parts of the lock comprise a disk-like main tumbler 13; three annular tumblers .in the form of flat, thin rings 14. 15 and 16; a controllingelement 17 projccting through an opening in the wall 1 and permanently journaled in the plate 12;

a stem 1S operatively connecting the controlling element and the tumblers, or rather, one of them; a bolt 19; and a spring 20 for retracting said bolt.

rllhe rings 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 form a permanent carrier for the intermediate ring tumbler 15 which has its marginal portion rotatably itted between the rings 8 and 10 and is co-planar with the ring 9. This carrier immediately adj oins the base 5 and the front plate 12 between which it is interposed. The rings S and 10 project inwvardly for a short distance beyond the other rings and with the two respectively adjoining outer rings 7 and 11 form seats for the ring tumblers 14 and 16 which may be indiscriminately fitted in said seats at opposite sides of the tumbler 15 and flush with the rings 7 and 11. As shown in the drawings, the tumbler 14 adj oins the base plate 5 and the tumbler 16 adjoins the controlling element 17.

rljhe casing parts are bound together and the lock parts thereby held in operative relation by means of a number of fastening screws 21 connecting the base 5 and the plate 12 and passing through openings in the carrier composed of the rings 7--11; and the lock as an entirety is held in relation to the wall 1 by the screws 4.

The bolt 19, the main tumbler 13, the ring tumblers 14 and 16 and the controlling element 17 are of the same general construction as the bolt, main tumbler, ring tumblers and controlling element shown in my said pending application.

The main tumbler 13 is formed as a disk and is provided with a radial recess 22 of general V-form which extends from the central opening of the tumbler to the annularly curved margin thereof. As shown, each of the ring tumblers 14, 15 and 16 has a pair of marginal recesses 23 which are exactly similar in purpose, arrangement and operation to the recesses 32, 33, 34 and 35 of the tumblers 14 and 15 disclosed in my said Patent No. 1,163,504. The tumblers 13, 14, 15 and 16, of course, control the projection and retraction of the bolt 19. The y bolt 19 includes a head 19u for` coperation with keeper (not shown) and an extended shank 19b formed with a longitudinal slot 19C. rlhe head 19a is provided with a pointed, inwardly directed projection 19d for coperation with the main tumbler 13, this projection engaging in the recess 22 to permit the retraction of the bolt; and with a forwardly directed projection 19e which co-acts with the tuinblers 14, 15 and 16 and engages in alining recesses 23 of said tumblers in order to permit the retraction of the bolt. The bolt 19 is fitted against the rear face of the base 5, i. c. between said base and the back plate 3 and is slidable radially of said base, the flange 6 for this purpose having a marginal recess 24 through which the head of the bolt projects. The bolt is guided in its radial sliding movements bythe side walls of the recess 24, by suitable guide lugs 25 struck up from the base 5 and by the stem 18 whose rear end projects through the slot 19C. According to the present invention, the shank of the bolt is of less thickness than its head and is in a plane at one side of the projection 19d; and said shank has at vits lower end a projection 26 which, together with the projection 19d, works against the base 5. ln consequence of the juxtaposition of the projections 19d and 26 and the base and of the shank 19b having less thickness than the head 19, a clearance 27 is provided between the bolt and the base 5 in which the spring 2O for retracting the bolt is conveniently arranged, said spring having one end fixed to said base and having its other end engaged with the projection 26.

The base 5 has a central .opening 28 in which the main tumbler 13 is iitted in uxta posed relation to either of the ring tumblers 14 or 16, accordingly as the one tumbler or the other adjoins the base 5. The opening 23 has a radial extension 29 in line with the recess 24 and in which the projection 19e works, the outer or curved wall of the opening 29 engaging the projection 19e to limit the outward movement of the bolt. The carrier composed of the rings 7-11 has a recess 29 in registry with bler 13 and in a central recess 30 on the inner -tace of the element 17.

rlhe stem 18 has fast thereon a sleeve (or it .might be an integral enlargement) 31 which determinately spaces the tumbler 13 and the element 17 and holds said tumbler slightly spaced from the adjacent ring tumbler 14 or 16 in order to prevent the dcvelopment of. any friction which might in terfere with the eilieient use of the lock.

Functionally, the stem 1S is a part of the f main tumbler, being` operated therewith by the element 17. lisv the operation of the other tumblers proceeds from the rotation of the main tumbler, it is necessary that means be provided for actuating one of the ring tumblers from the main tumbler. For this purpose, and having in mind the fact, as just stated, that the stem 13 is functionally al part of the main tumbler, the sleeve 31 on said stem is provided with oppositely disposed radial projections 32.

The ring tumblers 111- and 16 are each provided with a pair or' oppositely disposed adial projections, 33 and 311 respectively, which are directed toward their centers from the margins or walls of their central openings. rllhe intermediate ring` tumbler is provided at the margin of its central opening with two pairs of oppositely disposed projections and The two oppositely located projections 35 are directed ton wardly and coperate with the projections on the ring tumbler which adjoins the ele ment 17. The tumbler 16 is shown in this relation in the drawings. rlhe two oppositely located projections 36 are directed rearuuirdly and cooperate with the projections on the ring tumbler which adj oins the base 5. As already stated, the drawings show the ring tumbler 14 in this relation. ln the embodiment disclosed, the projections and 36 are in immediate juxtaposition, that is to say, one of the projections 35 is immediately adjoined by one of the projections 36.

When the bolt is projected, its projection 19 engages or rides on the annularly curved margin of the main tumbler 13 and the projection 19 is located beyond the annularly curved margins of the ring tumblers. In order that the bolt may be retracted, it is necessary that the recess 22 of the main tumbler and recesses Q3 of the three ring tumblers shall be sin'uiltaneously in registry with one another and in radial alinement with the projections 19d and 19C. )it this time, the springI 20 is operative to ret 'act the bolt, the projection v19d thereupon entering the recess of the main tumbler, and the projection 19e similarly entering` the alining recesses 23 of the ring tumblers. The movement of the bolt to locking position is eii'ected by the cam action of the walls of the recess 22 of the main tumbler on the projection 19l.

ln unlocking, the controlling element 17 is rotated by a dial and operating knob (the controlling element being functionally a part ot the rotatable dial) in the usual manner, for example, first to the right until the iirst number ot' the combination comes under the fixed pointer which adjoins the periphery of the dial, then to the left for the second number of the combination, then to the right for the third number of the combination, and finally, to the left for the fourth number of the combination. rllhe rotation oit the controlling` element is iirst taken up by the ring` tumbler which adjoins said element through the engagement ot' the projections 32 with the radial projections oit said ring tumbler, z'. e. with the radial project-ions 3l of the tumbler 16, as shown in the drawings. rlhe ring tumbler which adjoins the controlling element 17, e. the tumbler 16, will thereupon operate the inten mediate ring tumbler 15 through the engagement of its projections with the proj ections of said tumbler 15. The tumbler 15 will, in turn, and in like manner, thereupon operate the tumbler which adjoins the base 5, z'. e., the tumbler 14, through the engagement of the projections 36 of the tumbler 15 with the radial projections of the adjoining ring tumbler. rlhe ring tumbler which adjoins the base (and which does not operate any other tumbler) will be the lirst to be moved into unlocking position. The intermediate ring tumbler 15 will be the second tumbler to be moved to unlocking position. The remaining ring tumbler which adjoins the element 17 will be the third tumbler to be moved to unlocking position; and when vthe three ring tumblers have thus been set in unlocking position. the final actuation of the dial or controlling element will bring` the main tumbler into unlocking position, at which time the bolt 19 will be retracted in the manner already explained. The described order in which the rin tumblers are brought into unlocking position is ot' advantage in that upon the removal of the bolt 19 to permit a view from the rear through the opening 29 the unlocking recesses 23 of the tumblers will be successively presented to the eye as the combination is worked This greatly facilitates ascertaining the numerals of a new combination produced by some adjustment of the tumblers in any of the ways described. Y

The ring tumblers ltand 16, while eX- actly resembling one another in point of structure, dier as regards the relative arrangement of their marginal recesses 23. Thus, the recesses 23 of the tumbler 16 are in closer relation to one another at one side of a diameter of said tumbler than are the recesses 23 of the tumbler 14. This will be apparent from Figs. 9 and 10 where the different angles which one of each pair of recesses 23 forms with a diameter bisecting thev other recess are shown by dotted lines. In the embodiment disclosed, the recesses 23 of the tumbler 15 have the same spacing as the recesses 23 of the tumbler 14.

The combination may be changed in various ways and the number of possible changes of combination is very large, much larger, in fact, than the number of combinations possible with the broadly similar constructions shown-in my prior patents and in my pending application herein referred to.

As already stated, the tumblers 14 and 16 may be arranged indiscriminately adjacent the base 5 or the controlling element 17. Obviously, the interchange of said tumblers in their juxtaposition to said base and said controlling element is one way of eifecting changes of combination. Changes of combination may also be effected by changing the position of any or all of the ring tumblers, without, however, reversing them, whereby their recesses 23 will be at a side of a vertical diameter of the lock casing opposite to the side of said diameter at which said recesses were formerly set. This method of changing the combination is in no way dependent upon the adjacency of the respective tumblers 14 and 16 either to the base 5 or the element 17 or upon the adjacency of a particular face of said tumblers to the intermediate tumbler 15. A third method of providing for changes of combination consists in reversing the position of either of the tumblers 14 or 16 in its seat; for example, the tumbler 111 shown as adjoining the base 5 may be reversed in its seat without effecting its adjacency to said base but to interchange the adj acency of its respective faces to said base and to the tumbler 15. This method of changing the combination may be likewise practised without regard to the adjacency of either of the tumblers to the base 5 or the element 17. A fourth method of changing the combination consists in reversing the tumblerl 15. This is done by reversing the carrier composed of the rings 7-11. A [fifth method of changing the combination consists in changing the position of the tumbler 13 or the element 17, or both of them, on the stem 18.

Such change is effected by disengaging said stem from said tumbler 13 or from said element 17 and setting either of the disengaged parts in another position on said stem, this adjustment being made possible by the polygonal form of the stem and of the openings in which the ends of the stem engage. Obviously, the number of changes of combination possible in this manner will depend upon the number of flat sides which the stem has. Tn order to facilitate the systematic regulation of the combinations of a large number of locks and to facilitate the keeping of records of the changes in combination of these locks that may be made from time to time, the ring tumblers may have at each side of each face thereof certain identification notations. For example, one face of the tumbler 141 may have the letters A-B adjacent each of the recesses 23 and the other face of said tumbler may similarly have the letters C-D adjacent said recesses. In like manner, the tumbler 16 may have its faces marked with the letters E-FGH and the tumbler 15 may have its faces marked with the letters A-B-CD- The lettering of the ring tumblers in this manner enables a record to be kept of the arrangement of the ring tumblers 1A and 16 relatively to the intermediate ring tumbler 15. Thus, a record reading AA-C-E would indicate that the lock was set up with the tumbler 14 adjacent the base 5, the tumbler 16 adjacent the controlling element 17, the face bearing the letter A of the tumbler 141- adjacent the face bearing the letter A of the tumbler 15 and the face bearing the letter E of the tumbler 16 adjacent the face bearing the letter C of the tumbler 15. In accordance with the adjacency of the letters to the recesses 23, the record would also indicate which particular recesses of the tumblers would mutually register to permit the retraction of the bolt. Finally, changes of combination may be effected by dial substitution in the manner taught in my said co-pending application Serial No. 60,773. `While it is within the purview of the invention, as regards certain features thereof, to permanently connect the dial and the operating knob usually integral therewith with the controlling element 17, it is preferred that said dial shall be detachable from said controlling element and, when designed for ordinary use, shall be constructed as shown in my said pending application, i. e. as provided with a pair of pins arranged along a diameter or otherwise for engagement in recesses 39 in the front face of the element 17. In this way, a dial may be used to work a particular combination; and may be rendered useless for working other combinations; and the said combination may not be worked by a dial having an arrangement of pins for engage- CII ment in the recesses 39 different from the arrangement ot the pins on the dial specially provided for that combination.

lfVhere a large number of cash boxes are under common ownership or control and are apportioned into groups, the locks of each group having the same combination and having a combination which is dilierent from that of the locks ot each of the other groups, as heretofore explained, it is desirable that all ot the locks shall be accessible to some one otlicor or confidential employee who has a record of the combination of each group of locks., To promote such accessibility, a specially constructed masterdial, as herein shown, may be provided l'or the use of such otlicer or conlidential employee.

rlhe improved master-dial includes a plate l() having on its outer face the dial ring Lll and haring its inner face provided with a comiter-sunk recess in which is fitted an adjustable plate i2. The plate 42 is provided with pins 4S ior engagement in the recesses 39 and with a central threaded post let which pro-jects through a central opening of the plate -lO and upon which is mounted the operating knob l5. rlhe knob -l5 is tightened upon the post del: to bind all the parts of the dial in rigid relation. By loosening or backing oil' the knob i5, the plate il2 may be rotatably adjusted relatively to the dial plate il), whereby to provide for any desired radial positioning of the pins ft2-l. Thus, when said pins are in radial line with one particular numeral of the dial plate, e. g. the numeral l0, the dial will Work certain combinations but will not work other combinations. Such other combinations will require the radial alinement of said pins with some other numeral on the dial plate, c. g. the numeral 1.5,' or any other' numeral Within the dial ring. To enable relative adjustments of the plates il0 and l2 whereby the pins` i3 may be placed in radial alinement with any particular numeral within the dial ring, the knob -l-5 is backed cti', the plate 42 is turned to secure the alinement of its pins 'i3 with the numeral in question, and the .'znob il-53 is thereupon tightened to bind the parts in rigid rel ation. T ie described relati re adjustment of the plates l0 and ll2 may be greatly facilitated by the use of the implement shown in Figs. lil and l5 and Which consists of a flat key Li6 having openings L7 ttor the pins 4:3 and having a pointer i8 in line with the openin 4:7 adjacent the margin oi' the dial ring'. ln the use of the key ll? the dial is separated from the lock and said key is fitted against the plate 42 as shown, i. e. with the pins 4.3 engaged through the openings fl-7; ui'hen the key is fitted in this manner against the plate 42 it is used to hold said plate rigid while the knob 45 is backed oil. Thereupon, holding the dial plate l() stationary, the key 46 is used as a lever to turn the plate e2 in order to bring the pins Li3 into radialalinement with the desired numeral on the dial ring. rlhe radial alinement olf these pins with said numeral is indicated by the coincidence of the said numeral and the pointer i8. lVhen the plate 4-2 has been turned to the position desired, the said plate is held by means of the key Li6 against further turning movement while the knob i5 is tightened on the post del to rigidly bind the parts together; vand thereupon the key is disengaged from the plate l claiml. ln a permutation lock, two rotatable flat ring tumblers marginally recessed, each haiffing a pair ot oppositely located projections and a rotatable part intermediate and coaxial with said tumblers and having two pairs of oppositely located projections for cooperation, respectively, with the projections oi the said tumblers and a bolt having a projection for engagement in the marginal recesses of the tumblers when said reoesses are in mutual registry and alinement with said projection.

2. ln a permutation lock, a group of three rotatable co-axial flat ring tumblers marginally recessed, the two outside tumblers each having a pair of oppositely located radial projections and the intermediate tuinbler having' two pairs of oppositely located and oppositely directed lateral projections for cooperation, respectively, with the radial projections of the other two tumblers and a bolt having a projection for engagement in the marginal recesses oi' the tumblers when said recesses are in mutual registry and alinement with said projections.

3. ln a permutation lock, a group of three rotatable feo-axial flat ring tumblers, each provided with a pair of marginal recesses, the tivo outside tumblers each having a pair of oppositely located projections and the intermediate tumbler having two pairs of oppositely located projections for coperation, respectively, with the projections of the other two tumblers, the recesses of one oi the outside tumblers being set at a greater distance from one another than the recesses of the other outside tumbler and a bolt having a projection for engagement in certain recesses of said tumblers when said recesses are in mutual registry and alinement with said projections.

ln a permutation lock, a group of three rotatable coaxial iiat ring tumblers, a carrier with which the intermediate tumbler is permanently combined, said carrier having annular seats at opposite sides thereoic in which the other two tumblers are loosely and indiscriminately fitted and by which they are centered with relation to the intermediate tumbler, said tumblers being marginally recessed, the two`- outside tumblers each having a pair of oppositely located projections and the intermediate tumbler having two pairs of oppositely located projections for cooperation, respectively, with the` projections of the other two tumblers and a bolt having a projection for engagement in the marginal recesses of' the tumblers when said recesses are in mutual registry and alinement with said projection.

5. ln a permutation lock, a base plate having a central opening, a main tumbler fitted in the central opening, a rotatable controlling element, a stem operatively conneet-ing the controlling element and the main tumbler, a group ot flat ring tumbler-s arranged about said stem as a center and be` tween said base plate and said controlling element, a carrier for said ring tumbler xed relatively to said base plate and a sleeve fast on said stem and denitely spacing said main tumbler from said controlling element and the adjacent ring tumbler.

G. ln a permutation lock, a base plate, a bolt having a head and a shank, the shank being of less thickness than said head whereby the latter projects at one side oi said shank, the bolt also having a projection ce-planar with and extending inwardly from the projecting portion of said head and a second projection at the same side ol said shank as the lirst projection, said projections and said head bearing against the base plate and spacing the shank therefrom to provide a clearance under the shank, a spring for retracting the bolt, said spring having an end connected to the base plate and an end connected to the projection on said shank and extending into said clearance and a ilat tumbler projecting into said clearance and having a marginal recess, said iirstamed projection co-acting with said tumbler and being formed for engagement in said marginal recess.

7. ln a permutation lock, a liat base having a central opening and a rearwardly projecting flange, a controlling element at the side of said base opposite to .that from which said ll'lange projects, a main tumbler litted in the opening of the base, a stem operatively connecting said controlling element and said main tumbler, a front plate in which said controlling element is journaled, a group of flat ring tumblers arranged about said stem as a center, a ringlike carrier for said ring tumblers wholly occupying the space between said base and said -front plate, a sleeve carried by the stem for delinitely spacing the main tumbler iirom the controlling element and the adjacent ring tumbler, a bolt adjacent the side of the base from which the flange projects, the latter having a recess for the bolt head, and a back plate secured against the iiange.

8. ln a permutation lock, a. base having a central opening, a main tumbler rotatably tted in the central opening, a controlling element, a ste-m connecting the controlling element and the main tumbler, a group of marginally recessed ring tumblers arranged between the base and the controlling element, the base having an opening through which the recesses of the ring tumblers are exposed to view in the unlocking positions thereof, said ring tumblers having oppositely arranged inter-acting projections and means on said stem for actuating the ring tumbler which adjoins said controlling element, said projections being arranged whereby the actuation of said ring tumblers takes place in the order of their' adjacency to said element and the setting of the ring tumblers in unlocking position takes place in the order of their adjacency to said base.

9. The combination with a permutation lock having a rotatable controlling element, of a master-dial forming a companion of said controlling element, one of the coinpanion parts having a pair or" recesses and the other having a pair oi' pins for engagement in said recesses, the dial comprising a dial plate having a central opening and a recess in its under face, a second plate litted in said recess for rotatable adjustment, directly cooperating with said controlling element and having a threaded post projecting through said central opening and an operating knob enoageable on said post and operable to co-act with said post and dial plate to bind the parts of the dial in rigid relation.

l0. The combination with a permutation lock having a rotatable controlling element of a master-dial forming a companion of said controlling element, one ot the companion parts having a pair of recesses and the other having a pair ci pins for engagement in said recesses, the dial comprising a dial plate, a second plate rotatably adjustable relatively to the dial plate and adapted for operative connection with said controlling element by means of said pins and recesses, and means for holding the two plates in normal rigid relation.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence ci? two subscribing witnesses.

BUELL S. BURNETT.

`Witnesses FRANCES SHEPPARD, Bon'r. R. MILAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each,vby addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

